Acer's new rugged Chromebook 11 C771 series has IPS displays and 6th gen Intel processors

It's school season again and every company is either offering deals on existing products or introducing new ones to entice buyers for their back-to-school/college gear. In that vein, Acer has announced a new series of Chromebook 11s, the sexily-named C771.

First off, these are rugged Chromebooks and they've been tested to withstand drops from 48" height (122cm) thanks to corner shields around the keyboard and display, up to 330ml fluid spills on the keyboard, and they're MIL-STD 810G rated. That should help them stay strong in your bag or your kids' backpack, even when under stacks of books, and handle the rough treatment of a classroom environment.

But don't let the tough exterior fool you into thinking this is a sub-standard machine: the rest of the specs is quite good. The 1366x768 11.6" display has IPS technology and comes in either a touchscreen variant or without touch capabilities, the battery lasts between 12 and 13 hours depending on the model, and connectivity options are plentiful with USB 3.1 Type C, two USB 3.0 ports, one HDMI port, one 3.5mm jack, and dual-band MIMO Wi-Fi. Inside, there are 32GB of storage, 4GB of RAM, and you'll find one of different processor configurations, but they're all 6th gen Intel models: we're talking Core i3, Core i5, or Celeron.

The design might seem more utilitarian, but at least the display spins open 180-degrees. And there's a Kensington lock that can be used to lock the C771 to a cart or in a lab. Also, Acer says the C771 will support the Play Store "in the coming months."

The Celeron 3855U variants of the Chromebook 11 C771 will be available this month to education and commercial users in North America. They'll cost $279.99 for the non-touch model (C771-C4TM) and $329.99 for the touchscreen one (C771T-C1WS). Core i3 and Core i5 variants will come later in September.

PRESS RELEASE

Acer Chromebook 11 C771 Provides Performance in a Portable, Rugged Design

Editor’s Summary

First 11.6-inch Chromebook using 6^th Generation Intel Core and Celeron processors; Fast performance ideal for advanced students, school administration, business users in sleek design
Long battery life of up to 13 hours supports more than full-day at school plus homework and leisure activities in the evening
Durability features include drop tested to 48-inches (122cm), spill-resistant keyboard; compliant with stringent U.S. Military Standard (MIL-STD 810G)
Touch screen (C771T) or non-touch (C771) 11.6-inch display with IPS technology

San Jose, Calif. (Aug. 9, 2017) Acer today debuts a new performance-minded Chromebook for education and business customers, the Acer Chromebook 11 C771, which is the industry’s first Chromebook to use 6^th Generation Intel processors. It builds on Acer’s award-winning line of Chromebooks to deliver faster performance with up to 13 hours of battery life[1] in a portable and durable chassis.

“Chromebooks continue to grow in popularity at schools for their range of capabilities – and now the new Acer Chromebook 11 C771 can meet even more advanced needs such those of as students who are coding or editing videos and images,” said Chris Chiang, vice president of product management at Acer America. “Additionally, it can handle the more demanding computing needs of administrators, teachers and business users while still being portable enough to take anywhere.”

Acer Group was the world’s leading Chromebook brand in 2016 according to data from Gartner[2].

The Chromebook 11 C771 will provide additional capabilities thanks to planned support for Android apps via the Google Play^™ Store in coming months.

Enhanced Performance; Long Battery Life

The new Acer Chromebook 11 C771 delivers enhanced performance with 6^th Generation Intel^® Core i5, Core i3 and Celeron^® processors, so students and administrators can enjoy graphics capabilities, better response time and utilize even more tabs and apps. It supports up to 4GB of RAM[3] to boost start-up and responsiveness. Business customers, such as those in healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing, can utilize the Chromebook 11 C771 as a mobile thin client solution.

The Acer Chromebook 11 C771 delivers extra-long battery life for productivity and fun through the school day into the evening. The C771T models with a touch screen provide up to 12 hours of battery life, while the C771 models can provide up to 13 hours. This makes the line ideal for students in 1:1 programs as well as for organizations with extended classroom and work hours.

Investment Protection in a Durable Design

Schools and businesses looking for an excellent investment that contributes to reduced IT maintenance costs will be pleased with the durability and design features of the Chromebook 11 C771. The Chromebook is compliant with the stringent Military Standard U.S. MIL-STD 810G[4] that validates its ruggedness, durability and quality. In addition, the corner-shield structure and rubber bumpers surrounding the display and keyboard further protect the Chromebook, so it can tolerate drops from heights up to 48 inches (122cm).

The internal honeycomb structure defends the device from up to 132 pounds (60kg) of downward force on the top cover, so it’s protected even when students stack text books on top of it or cram it in a backpack. Plus, the Acer Chromebook 11 C771 is protected against spills of up to 11 fluid ounces (330ml) of water with its unique spill-resistant keyboard that routes water away from internal components and out the bottom of the chassis. Also, the keyboard has recessed keys and smaller gaps, so it’s less likely that students will remove the key caps.

180-Degree Hinge Opens Flat; Multiple Display Options

The Acer C771 Chromebook has an IPS display with touch screen or non-touch options, so schools can meet their curriculum and budget requirements. The 11.6-inch display has a 1366x768 resolution that ensures clear apps and text as well as vivid images. The hinge design securely holds the display in place, yet also opens up to 180 degrees, so it can lay flat for easier sharing during labs and project time.

The Acer Chromebook 11 C771 is slim and portable, measuring only 0.82 inches (21mm) thin and weighs only 2.98 pounds (1.35kg).

Students Stay Connected

The Chromebook 11 C771 has a USB 3.1 Type C for fast data transfers as well as two USB 3.0 ports and one HDMI port. Students can plug in headphones with the 3.5mm combo audio port. Files can be transferred with the device’s built-in microSD card reader. Also, students and business customers can stay connected with fast dual-band 2x2 MIMO 802.11ac/a/b/g/n Wi-Fi. The HDR webcam delivers an easy and fun way to connect with HD 1280x720 resolution and 720p audio/video recording. The Chromebook also includes HD audio support, dual built-in stereo speakers and a microphone.

Easy to Share, Manage

The Acer Chromebook 11 C771 supports multiple user sign on to keep data safe. Students and employees simply log onto their unique accounts to ensure their project, Gmail and other information is kept safe, even if the Chromebook is lost or stolen. Storage on Google Drive[5] protects files, documents, and photos safely in the cloud, and ensures that the most current version is always available. Students can also access files offline, and even open and edit Microsoft_® Office documents as well as Google Documents.

The Acer Chromebook 11 C771 is easy to deploy and manage. IT administrators will find it easy to make updates, configure apps, utilize extensions and policies and more with the web-based management.[6] Students will stay protected since Chrome OS is automatically updated and guards against ever-changing online threats, such as viruses and malware.

The new Acer Chromebook 11 C771 has a Kensington lock, so it can be secured to a wireless cart or lab.

Price and Availability

The initial models to be available in the line will come with a 6th Generation Intel Celeron 3855U processor, 32GB of eMMC storage and 4GB of RAM, and either a touch-screen (model C771T-C1WS) or non-touch (model C771-C4TM) IPS display priced at $329.99 and $279.99 respectively. They will be available to education and commercial customers in North America this month. Models with 6^th Generation Core i5 and Core i3 processors will be available in September.

About Acer

Founded in 1976, today Acer is one of the world’s top ICT companies and has a presence in over 160 countries. As Acer looks into the future, it is focused on enabling a world where hardware, software and services will infuse with one another to open up new possibilities for consumers and businesses alike. From service-oriented technologies to the Internet of Things to gaming and virtual reality, Acer’s 7,000+ employees are dedicated to the research, design, marketing, sale, and support of products and solutions that break barriers between people and technology. Please visit www.acer.com for more information.

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